Autoimmune diseases

People are able to protect themselves from infection because they have immune systems to fight them off. Sometimes the immune system get confused and attacks normal cells in our own body. If this happens, what is known as an autoimmune disease develops.

Examples include Grave’s disease (affecting the thyroid), rheumatoid arthritis (affecting joints) and diseases affecting the skin and soft tissues like lupus, scleroderma, sarcoidosis, and fibromyalgia. Treatment is possible and usually requires help from your doctor, specialists and other healthcare professionals.